Jainism Christianity and Science

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: The Indian Press Allahabad

Page 92

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JAINISM, CHRISTIANITY & SCIENCE
These thrones, then, are intended for the greatest Teachers among men, by whose standard, or norm, men will have to judge themselves if they want to attain to divine Perfection. These are the Tirthamkaras whose number is identically the same as that of the thrones and of the Elders who are seated on them.
The Christian description of the Siddhas (Perfect Souls) is given in the seventh chapter of the Book of Revelation in the 9th and 13th to 17th verses, and runs as follows:
9.“ After this I bebeld, and lo & great multitude which no man could number ... stood before the throne, ... clothed with wbite robes, and palms in their hands.
13." And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these that are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14. "And I said unto him, Sir, tbou knowest. And he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15. "Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16." They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any beat.
17. “For the Lamb that 18 in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
Concerning the excellence of the condition of the Siddhas (in Christian terminology, the Saved Ones) the Early Christian teaching mentioned the same characteristics of Their Existence in Nirvana as are given in the Jaina Scriptures:
“There shall be no more death, neither SOITOW nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." -Revelation xxi. 4.